Please help

Hi, my brother is suffering from a spinal cord injury. He is a hockey player. During a match, he fell down by hitting his back. This hitting caused damage to his backbone and spinal chord. Now he is on bed rest after his surgeries. His right arm is fully paralyzed. Now he is mentally weak. We are trying to console him, but sometimes we also fail to do it. His friends are also supporting him. Doctors suggested physiotherapy treatments after his surgical recovery. They suggested a clinic in Toronto which is specialized in sports injuries for physiotherapy treatments. We all are waiting for taking further treatments. We want to see him as he was before. Our parents are also mentally weak. I couldn't console them. Please help me. How can I console them? Share your thoughts and help me.

My name is Beth and I am a member of the Information Specialist Team here at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. It sounds like your family is having a bit of a rough time right now. Please call 1-800-539-7309 or 973-467-8270 and ask to speak to an Information Specialist. We have a wide range of information and resources for individuals living with paralysis, as well as their family members and caregivers including a New Injury package and information on Adjusting to a Spinal Cord Injury. If you don’t want to call you can also submit a question using the “send a question” tab here: https://www.christopherreeve.org/get-support/ask-us-anything.

Hi Carol123,When a person is newly injured it is a hard time for the person who had the injury along with their family and friends. We have found it very beneficial to talk with someone who can relate to the persons condition. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s Peer & Family Support Program has certified Reeve peer mentors across the USA. If your brother and other family members live in the USA please consider reaching out to us so we can connect you with our mentors. You can go online to request a mentor at https://www.christopherreeve.org/get-support/get-a-peer-mentor or give us a call at 1-800-539-7309.Our foundation created a Paralysis Resource Guide which has a wonderful amount of information that has been very helpful to people with paralysis, their family members and friends. You can order a free hard copy to be mailed to you or you can download it to your PC. There is also an audio version that can be downloaded: https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/free-resources-and-downloads/paralysis-resource-guide.

The foundation has a terrific team of Information Specialists which are available to answer your questions. Call toll-free 1-800-539-7309 Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm ET.

Wishing You All The Best!!!

Todd

Todd A. Johnston
860-558-7384
Program Coordinator for Eastern United States
Peer and Family Support Program
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
tjohnston@christopherreeve.org

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